Shimza

“Ascendent”

Review

Tracklisting:
A1. Congo Congo
A2. Congo Congo Dub MIx
B1. Secret Melodies
B2. Selector
Info:
Shimza, real name Ashley Raphala, is one of South Africa’s brightest young talents.
“Ascendent", his 4 tracks debut E.P. on Cadenza reveals solid production skills and
an innate instinct for peak-time bangers. The opening track, “Congo Congo” is a
dark ride over abysmal tom-tom drums, lively percussions and a gloomy bass lead,
ignited dramatically by an ensemble of wide synthetic stabs and chords. In its “Dub-
Mix", the drums and the percussion become lighter without diminishing its dynamic
tension. The overall weight of the leads and the stabs is reduced, leaving more space
to its intense piano and string chords and swinging sub bass. “Shimza - Secret
Melodies” starts with an obscure bass line, but the intense twist of fractioned rolls
and arpeggios bring an ascending piano progression that quickly blooms into an
uplifting symphony. “Selector” is a deeper cut that keeps the gaze on the dancefloor:
the incessant hand clapping and a cloud of low frequencies bumps unexpectedly
drag its hypnotic harmonies into a breath-taking drop.